BETWEEN HELLO AND GOODBYE

were brown, but now I see I was only half-right. They’re lighter, more like caramel than c

re married with a wife and two-point-fi

up in watching the windows to her soul. I see somet

ld be if I had one. I smile because the thought of me being married is s

buying what I’m selling. “The lack of a wedding band doesn’t prove an

our dishes and we fall silent until h

better answer, it’s jus

that explains

f I don’t handle her the right way, she’ll run. Of this, I’m certain. “You and I will b

e’s laughing but has no idea that withholding re

feeling like I’ve never done this before.“I d

comes to dating, I need it to be simple and undemanding. Disclosing

You’re no

he three months is over, so are we. I’ll move on and you will too. Because you won’t know

read, and it’s full of

explain them. “Because that’s th

scowl on her face. “If you never wanted to hear from m

t have to tell me your real name and you choose how much or how little you want to tell me about yourself? “

of defense. “I’m a very wealthy man. The three months we spend together would be

laughs. “Well, at least

one more card up my sleeve. “I’d

ttom one into her mouth. God, I’d love to do th

ing on. “Yes, I would

ort or a prostitute, and I’m nei

calm her. “I wasn’t suggesting you were either. Sex wouldn’t be the onl

ngers and apparently that’s what you’d continue to be sinc

nable argument, but it wouldn’t be like that. We

e.” She pushes away from the table. “Please

to go, Mile

m my pocket and call Sam .

look at me. I regret we didn’t have more time together. I

walk her toward the exit. “The car is at the curb as we move through the revolving doors. I open the back pass

Wow, that

the urge to get into the backseat with her but I know it’s useless. I’ve insulted her, and she’s made it clear she wouldn’t accept

ds me with narrowed

hat are y

you.” She scoots as far from me as possibl

ilence as Sam drives us to where she is staying. I rack my brai

walking by her side toward the apartment’s entrance, and I can’t fight the

jackass! You rode with me so you could try to talk me

out and place my finger over her lips. “Shh. Don’t say no again right now. Wait until you’ve had time to thin

s I remember the way she sucked it. “If you say yes, you’d

the hotel restaurant tomorrow night at eight o’clock

but I’m glad to be alone. I don’t want to explain why I’ve returned from a date with a man I can’t name. It’s still early but nothing is on television, s

t’s crazy It’s bizar

be no chance of a broken heart. He said it would be the best three months of my

romantic or nonromantic. Maybe my problems stem from my father—or lack thereof––or my mother’s unrequited love for him. Neither have been much of a positive influence

fall asleep, only to be awakened by Kim sneaking into our bedroom again. Does she think that Max is stupid? He has t

e. “Tell me I’m not going to wake up to

re so the good-looking suit must not have be

ut the weirdo part. “It was a

ing out Spanish gu

him justice. There needs to be a new word for what he is. “Differe

, that doesn’t

ts were that it was cra